What is sclerenchyma? Describe location, structure and economic importance of this tissue.

Sclerenchyma is a supporting tissue. It is the tissue which make plant hard and stiff.

Location: This tissue is present in stems, around vascular bundles, in the veins of leaves and in the hard covering of seeds and nuts.

Structure: The cells of this tissue are dead. They are long, elongated, narrow, thick walled and lignified. These consists of fibres and sclereids.